Further information

Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma
Introductory Biology Redesign Coordinator

Job Summary
Applications are invited for a full-time, 2-year postdoctoral appointment beginning fall 2013 in the Department of Biology at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK. We seek a creative and passionate individual to coordinate the transformation of a major introductory course into a model of biology education that will invigorate STEM education on our campus and attract notice from science educators around the world. We seek a person with strong teaching skills and experience in developing active learning activities linked to rigorous assessment of learning outcomes.

The coordinator will help design a hybrid S-credit hour lecture, laboratory, and discussion course that uses state-of-the art instructional strategies to promote student engagement in biological exploration. The course will be a rigorous, integrative, active learning experience that immerses students in modern biology and inspires them to be active participants in scientific discovery. Through engaging, authentic experiences, students will emerge with fluency in core biological principles, a firm understanding of the philosophy of scientific investigation, and the tools necessary to think critically and conduct original research. Special emphasis will be placed on integrating evolutionary concepts throughout the course. The class, which will serve approximately 1500 students per year, represents a unique opportunity to influence the scientific education landscape.

The coordinator will develop learning objectives that are relevant to our students and consistent with core competencies such as those articulated in the recent AAAS and NSF supported Vision and Chanoe report. In consultation with the department, other constituencies that the course serves, OU's Center for Teoching Excellence, and University College's Actlon Tutoring program, the coordinator will consider teaching technologies and strategies including hybrid design, adaptive learning technologies, simulations, data acquisition and processing software, personal response systems, investigative laboratory modules, and case studies.

Qualifications
Candidates with a PhD are preferred; we will also consider candidates with an MS plus significant experience with teaching and course design. The candidate's research expertise may be in any area of biology, but broadly trained scientists with extensive training in education pedagogy and course redesign are preferred.

How to Apply
Send curriculum vitae, letter of interest, and statement of teaching philosophy by July 15, 2013 through http://jobs.ou.edu (requisition number 16867). Separately, please arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent to Dr. Randall Hewes (hewes@ou.edu), chair, Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, Oklahoma 73019. For more information about the Department of Biology, please visit: http://biology.ou.edu/.

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo

Cookies on the New Scientist Jobs website

Our website uses cookies, which are small text files that are widely used in order to make websites work more effectively. To continue using our website and consent to the use of cookies, click away from this box or click 'Close'.